Arjun Munda Govt reduced to minority

The CM is unfazed by the resignation of four ministers and is confident of proving his government's majority.

The BJP-led coalition government in Jharkhand appears to have been reduced to a minority after four ministers resigned on Tuesday capping their battle with Chief Minister Arjun Munda.

Munda, however, remained unfazed and expressed confidence of proving his majority.

The 18-month-old government, which enjoys a wafer-thin majority of one in a House of 82, plunged into deep crisis when the ministers - Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai and Madhu Kora (all independents), and Kamlesh Singh (NCP) - sent their resignation to Governor Syed Sibtey Razi from Delhi by fax.

Then the ministers, accompanied by some Opposition MLAs, left for Ranchi by a chartered flight.

While the NDA claims the support of 42 MLAs, including a nominated legislator, the Opposition combine has 39.

With the resignation of the four ministers from the government, the BJP-JD(U) government is in deep trouble and may find it difficult to prove its majority, observers said.

However, an unfazed Chief Minister said that there was no problem for his government and he would prove its majority on the floor of the House.